Roll forming machine



Oct. 31, 1961 M. J. CELOVSKY ROLL FORMING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1957 137F517 Tar Mama CELOVSA) m a JT 5 Oct. 31, 1961 M. J. CELOVSKY ROLL FORMING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 30, 1957 if v LIZ/E17 T 0.2- Mama d C54 m/sxr Oct. 31, 1961 M. J. CELOVSKY 3,006,224

ROLL FORMING MACHINE Filed Aug. 30, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fag. 4

ZYVEHZZJP 2/ 22 MC'l/IIEA 654011644 I @M, Wm m z United States Patent 3,006,224 ROLL FORMING MACHINE Michael J. Celovsky, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Industrial Tool Engineering Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Aug. 30, 1957, Ser. No. 681,334 3 Claims. (Cl. 8035) This invention relates generally to a roll forming machine. More particularly, this invention relates to a roll forming machine wherein the rolls are powered by. a series of fluid motors and with fluid control means for each of the rolls so that the velocity of the rotating rolls may be controlled independent of one another.

In the past considerable difiiculty has been experienced in changing the roll sizes because generally to change the roll size necessitates different gear sizes to maintain the gears in mesh. With respect to changing the center distances of the roll considerable difficulty has been experienced in the past due to the difficulty in arranging and changing the usual gear drive which of course is an expensive procedure especially since sometimes new gearing is required. In the formation of complicated sections, difliculty is experienced because the material is sometimes dragged and marked due to a variation of roll speed, which in the past must be corrected by the cut and try method of changing roll diameters. In the past it will be further appreciated that it has not generally been possible to vary the speed of the individual roll on the roll forming machine except by cut and try methods by reducing one roll in diameter.

It will be further appreciated that roll forming machines due to their relatively small size, cost and frequent change of center distance of the roll heads, etc., do not lend themselves to expensive individual roll drives by complicated variable prime movers such as variable speed electrical motors and the like. Cost and complications, for instance, in the case of a ten roll unit with 8 /2 inch center distance between the roll stands, permit only a simple, compact, and eflicient variable drive.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a roll forming machine having rolls which are infinitely adjustable as to speed and with the machine be- ..ing compact in its size, simple in construction and cost,

and very rugged and reliable.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a roll forming machine having new and improved means for adjusting the speed of the rolls which means is of a small size and permits closer center distance between the rolls as well as the stands for improved operation of the roll forming machine. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a roll forming machine having rolls of different diameters whereby the vention there is provided in a roll forming machine comprising a supporting base, roller stands on the supporting base, a series of pairs of rollers carried by the roller stands with each of the rollers having a roller shaft extending axially thereof, bearing means rotatably supporting the roller shafts and the rollers on the roller stands, a series of fluid motors with each fluid motor having a drive shaft, coupling means between the roller shafts and the drive shafts, control valves cooperable with the fluid motors with the rollers in each pair being driven by a different fluid motor and with one of the con- 3,006,224 Patented Oct. 31, 1961 ice trol valves associated with each of the fluid motors for controlling the fluid flow thereto and thereby controlling the velocity of the associated roll driven by the fluid motor even though the rollers in each pair may have diameters at variance with one another, housings affixed to the roller stands encasing the coupling means and with the fluid motors detachably carried and supported by said housings, and power means for operating the fluid motors comprising an electric motor, a hydraulic pump unit powered by the electric motor, a shut-off valve connected to the pump unit, a pilot connected to the shut-off valve for operating the shut-off valve, a pressure header and a return header in communication with the shut-off valve, and fluid lines connecting the pressure header and the return header with each of the fluid motors.

Other objects and features of the present invention will more fully become apparent in view of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating therein several embodiments and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation with certain areas broken away to develop certain details;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary end elevation of the roll form-ing machine shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line IIIIII of FIGURE 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view with portions broken away and shown in section further illustrating the roll forming machine;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken generally on the line VV of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary end elevation similar to FIGURE 2 only illustrating a modified form of my invention wherein the rolls have varying diameters.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally my roll forming machine which has a base housing 11. This housing 11 encloses certain apparatus hereinafter described in greater detail, and in addition, the housing 11 supports a series of spaced roller structures or units indicated generally at 12.

Each of the roller structures 12 has a pair of superimposed rollers 13, 13 suitably supported by a roller supporting structure 14. The roller supporting structure, as here illustrated, comprises a pair of spaced roller stands 15, 15. The longitudinal spacing between the units 12 may be varied in any suitable manner such as by means of removing the threaded bolts 16 from the feet of the roller stands 15 and sliding the stands to a new position with the bolts 16 thereafter being again secured to the base 11 through the feet.

Since all of the units 12 are identical with one another a description of one is believed to suflice for all of them and the same reference numerals will apply to each of the units 12.

-As is evident from FIGURE 2 the rollers 13 are each supported on axial shafts 17, 17 and bearing structure 18 of the type shown in FIGURE 5 is utilized to support the ends of the shaft 17 since the bearing structures 18 are fixedly carried by the roller stands 15.

The bearing structures 18 may be all alike as is shown and may be of any suitable construction. In the illustrated form of the invention the shaft 17 has affixed thereto an annular sleeve member 19 provided with annular end portions 20, 20 secured thereto having inclined bearing surface 20a, 20a. The roller stand 15 has aflixed thereto an annular sleeve member 21 also having annular end portions 22, 22 secured thereto having inclined annular bearing surfaces 22a, 22a. Disposed between the annular bearing surfaces 20a, and 22a, are a series of conical roller elements 23.

For driving the roller shafts 17, and according to principles of the present invention, it is contemplated that fluid motors 25 may be of the type shown in my copending application entitled Fluid Motor, Serial No. 659,538, filed May 16, 1957.

Each of the fluid motors 25 has a drive shaft 26 which may be suitably coupled to the roller shaft 17. To this end, a gearage housing 27 is provided which housing is suitably fixed to the roller stand 15 by means of Welding, bolts or the like. The free end of the housing 27 serves as a mounting for the fluid motor 25 which motor 25 has a plate 28 through which bolts 25 extend and are threadingly coupled with the housing 27. Carried upon the end of the fluid drive shaft 26 is a pinion gear 36. An annular or tubular internal gear 31 is provided which has teeth 32 in mesh with the pinion gear 30. The internal tubular gear at its opposite end is keyed at 33 to the roller shaft 17. For maintaining the internal gear 31 in its relative longitudinal or axial position with respect to the housing 27, the end of the roller shaft 17 is reduced and threaded at 34 to receive thereover a nut 35. The nut 35 bears against the gear 31 forcing the gear against the end portion 20 on shaft 17. The nut 35 in this manner also serves to keep the bearings locked in position.

For powering the fluid motors 25 an electric motor 36 is provided. The electric motor 36 may be of any suitable construction and has a drive shaft 37 suitably connected to a shaft 38 on a hydraulic fluid pump unit 39 by means of a coupling 4%. The pump 39 is positioned adjacent a reservoir R and is provided with a fluid inlet pipe 39a for drawing fluid from the reservoir. The pump 39 may be of any suitable construction and is connected to a torque adjusting relief valve 40 by means of a fluid line 41. V

Overlying the valve 40 is a shut-off valve 42 connected to the valve 40 by means of fluid line 43. A pilot valve 44 is provided externally of the housing 11 and is connected by means of fluid lines 45 and 46 to the fluid line 43 and the shut-off valve 42. By actuation of the handle on the pilot valve 44 the control valve 42 may be operated. The shut-off valve and the pilot valve may be of any suitable construction and the control may be adapted to be operated in accordance with the fluid pressure applied to the valve 42 which pressure is controlled by the pilot valve 44.

High pressure fluid line 47 and exhaust fluid pressure line 48 are respectively connected to a pressure header 49 and an exhaust or tank header 50. As is shown in FIGURES 1 and 4 control valves 51 are provided on the header 49 for metering the fluid to the fluid motors 25.

Each of the fluid motors has a flexible fluid pressure line 52 connected to the pressure header 49 and a flexible exhaust fluid line 53 connected to the exhaust header 50.

Asis best seen in FIGURE 4, the metering valve 51 is illustrated as having a scaled disc 54 connected to a stem 55 having an eccentric groove 56 cut into the stem 55. The pressure line 47 is connected to a longitudinal passageway 57 in the pressure header 49. This passageway 57 runs longitudinally of all of the units 12 and at intervals along the length of the header 49, vertical passageways 58 are in communication with the longitudinal passageway 57 with the stems 55 (FIGURE 4) extending transversely across the passageways 58 so that fluid may be admitted from the passageway 57 through the passageway 58 including the eccentric groove 56 to the fluid motor 25. Thus it will be appreciated that all of the fluid motors are operated from fluid pressure admitted from a series of vertical passageways 58 which are all in communication with a longitudinal fluid passageway 57.

As is best illustrated in FIGURE 4, the exhaust header 50 comprises a tank with the exhaust fluid lines 53 leading from the exhaust side of the fluid motors 25 to the exhaust header or tank 50 and out through the passageway or fluid line 48 through the control valve 42 whereupon the exhaust fluid is discharged into the reservoir through fluid line 59.

In FIGURE 6 is shown a modified form of the invention wherein one or more of the units 12 may have rollers with varying diameters.

By providing each individual roll with a fluid motor, the speed and torque may be readily adjusted by the speed control valve. In other words, by turning the dial and the stem, the amount of fluid to the motor can be varied by varying the cross section of the groove to alter the flow of fluid therethrough to control the speed of the motor. While a particular type of control is shown, it will be appreciated that any type of fluid metering arrangement may be used.

In view of the foregoing it will now be appreciated how a roll forming machine may be provided with rolls each having individual drives preferably by fluid motors with the speed of the motors being controlled by valves and with the positioning of the rolls and the roll stands being highly flexible.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A roll forming machine comprising a supporting base, roller stands movable with respect to one another along the path of the rolling on said supporting base, fastening means between each of the roller stands and said base, a series of pairs of rollers carried by said roller stands with each of said rollers having a roller shaft extending axially thereof, bearing means rotatably supporting said roller shafts and said rollers on said roller stands, a series of fluid motors with each fluid motor having a drive shaft, coupling means between said roller shafts and said drive shafts, control valves cooperable with said fluid motors with the rollers in each pair being driven by a different fluid motor and with one of the control valves associated with each of said fluid motors for controlling the fluid flow thereto and thereby controlling the velocity of the associated roll driven by the fluid motor even though the rollers in each pair may have diameters at variance with one another, means connected to the stands for detachably supporting the fluid motors, and power means for operating said fluid motors comprising a motor, a hydraulic pump unit powered by said motor, a shut-01f valve connected to said pump unit, a pilot connected to said shut-off valve for operating the shut-0E valve, a pressure header and a return header in communication with said shut-off valve, and fluid lines connecting the pressure header and the return header with each of said fluid motors.

2. A roll forming machine comprising a supporting base, roller stands on said supporting base, fastening means joining said roller stands with said base, the roller stands being movable relative to one another along the rolling path and relative to the base by disconnecting and connecting the roller stands with respect to the base through-the operation of the fastening means, a series, of pairs of rollers carried by said roller stands with each of said rollers having a roller shaft extending axially thereof, bearing means rotatably supporting said roller shafts and said rollers on said roller stands, a series of fluid motors with each fluid motor having a drive shaft, coupling means between said roller shafts and said drive shafts, and control valves cooperable with said fluid motors with the rollers in each pair being driven by a different fluid motor and with one of the control valves associated with each of said fluid motors for controllin the fluid flow thereto and thereby controlling the velocity of the associated roll driven by the fluid motor even 3. The roll forming machine of claim 2 further characterized as having pressure and tank headers disposed along one side of the machine and being mounted on said base, the fluid lines being connected with each of said fluid motors for driving each of said rollers independent of one another, said control valves including a dial control mounted on said pressure header for controlling operation of the rolls independent of each other and with all of the dial controls disposed on the same side of the machine to enable the operator to readily analyze the operation of the rolls.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Fowler Jan. 15, 1929 Iverson Jan. 22, 1929 Belanger Sept. 3, 1929 Ferris Dec. 12, 1933 Iverson Dec. 8, 1936 Pease Sept. 27, 1938 TWeedale Dec. 3, 1940 Gifford Sept. 16, 1941 Heintz Dec. 7, 1943 Hughes May 29, 1945 Bailey Nov. 20, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Australia Sept. 12, 1957 Great Britain Mar. 3, 1932 Great Britain Oct. 20, 1932 

